THE GUIDE

By ELEANOR CHARLES

Published: August 9, 1998

Two exhibitions of Japanese origin, one of which playfully tweaks East-West cultural mores, can be seen at the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem through Oct. 25.

Masami Teraoka, trained in ancient ukiyo-e wood-block printing but influenced by American Pop artists of the 60's, has evolved a style that is at once as delicately Japanese as can be, but with the sly humor of a New Yorker cartoon. To wit: gossamer swirling kimonos worn by two Japanese women -- their sandaled feet peeking from beneath, and one toe pointing to a McDonald's hamburger lying on the ground with two errant french fries beside it.

One of America's favorite fast foods is the subject of Mr. Teraoka's series of watercolors called ''McDonald's Hamburgers Invading Japan.'' It includes a self-portrait of the artist with long flowing hair and a hamburger flying at his head.

The 62-year-old artist was born in a small town near Osaka, but after coming to the United States to study art he remained as a resident of Hawaii. He has had solo exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

A celebration of sake, or at least the containers it comes in, makes up the second exhibition. Barnard Stoltie of Trumbull is a collector of sake bottles made of fired clay, lacquers, wood, gourds and other materials.

Adorned with markings and calligraphy indicating the maker, the merchant, the brewer or the consumer, the large bottles would have been taken to the sake shop for refilling much as Americans once ''rushed the growler,'' the term for taking a beer bucket to a saloon for refilling. But there the resemblance ends. Most sake bottles are works of art, reflecting the religious, festive and ceremonial uses of the drink.

A third exhibition of bas-relief weavings by Ethel Stein may also be seen at the museum through Oct. 25. Her work is unusual in its layered textural effect.

The museum, at 326 Deveau Road, is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon to 4 P.M. Admission of $4, $3 for children older than 12 and adults older than 65 includes access to the gardens. A cafe is open from noon to 3 P.M. Call 669-6777 for cafe reservations, or 669-5033 for museum information and directions.

Tours of Three Gardens

Three exceptional gardens will be open for touring on Tuesday, organized by the Westchester-Fairfield Horticultural Society, beginning at 4 P.M. in Ridgefield. A 1750 saltbox house and garden belonging to B. B. Stamats, a well-known garden designer, is at 153 South Salem Road (Route 35). Sitting on an abandoned railroad right-of-way, the property is set off by a 90-foot-long granite cliff and a waterfall, which drops 20 feet into a pond. Mr. Stamats has planted the place to resemble a natural woodland glade with shade-loving hostas, goat's beard, rodgersia, angelica, epimedium and foam flower.

Two more garden designers, Joseph Keller and Ilsa Svendsen, created the second garden, also in Ridgefield, as an American sun and shade stroll garden. Special features are a collection of native woody and herbaceous plants, which blend with a beautiful natural marsh, a large raised-bed vegetable garden, some unusual annuals and a collection of interesting garden furniture.

The final stop will be at Dick Button's house in North Salem. It is named Ice Pond Farm, and it overlooks a vista of the pond and meadows beyond. The kitchen garden combines vegetables and flowers, the swimming pool is bordered with flowers, and there is a wildflower walk. After touring the property, visitors may stay for refreshments and a plant raffle.

The fee is $10. Directions may be obtained by calling (203) 661-8626.

Arts and Crafts in Garrison

The Garrison Art Center in Garrison-on-Hudson is combining its 29th Fine Arts and Crafts Fair with theater for adults and children at the Philipstown Depot Theater across the way. The plays will run concurrently with the fair next Saturday and Sunday.

''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' by C. S. Lewis will be performed both days at 11 A.M. and 1:30 and 4:30 P.M., introducing children to the wondrous world of Narnia, entered through the clothes closet in a children's nursery. This production is an innovative treatment of the classic story, performed by two adult actors. Tickets are $7, $5 for children.

''Spoon River Anthology'' for adults was adapted by Nancy Larson for a cast of six, with incidental music. It may be seen next Saturday and Sunday at noon and 3 P.M. and in outdoor performances on the lawn in Philipstown Park at 6:30 P.M. Tickets are $10, $7 for children. Call 424-3960 for tickets.

The art and craft fair will be in progress both days from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M., rain or shine, under tents in Garrison Landing Riverfront Park. A jury of artists selected the paintings, textiles, ceramics, woodworks, glass, jewelry, basketry, photographs and prints. Additional exhibitions will be on view inside the art center.

Next Saturday the Clearwater sloop will be docked at the Garrison Marina for tours and sailings. In addition there will be original and familiar folk songs sung next Saturday by Loralee Amram. Next Sunday Julie Wegener will entertain with her wheel-around piano.

More than 50 volunteer cooks will prepare chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and tabouli sandwiches in the food tent. There will be picnic tables and a shuttle bus to take visitors from the Metro-North parking lot to the fair site. Call 424-3960 for more information.

Children's Nature Programs

Now is the time to sign up children for September programs at the Greenburgh Nature Center. Classes make use of the center's 130 live animals, 100 species of plants, an apple orchard, beehives, field trips on the grounds, indoor games and instruction in the use of science equipment and materials suitable for individual age groups.

The center is at 99 Dromore Road off Central Avenue in Scarsdale. Call 723-3470 to register. ELEANOR CHARLES

Photo: Bizen ware sake bottle at Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem.